Shortly after our family moved to the Netherlands, I went on a road trip with a few of the ladies from our chapel to visit the Ten Boom* Clock Shop in Haarlem. We were about halfway there when we stopped at a rest stop. One friend said, “I don’t really need to go in there, but I’ve learned that on a road trip you never pass up the opportunity.” Ever since then, whenever my family pulls into a rest stop on a road trip, I think of this friend.

She might think this is an unfortunate way to be remembered, but it makes me smile. I also remember her whenever I get to buy lunch for a friend because, on that same trip, she insisted on buying lunch, saying, “If the day ever comes when I can’t afford to buy lunch for my friends, I will be in dire need.” Since she and I had only just met, I was touched to be considered a friend so quickly. That memory has stuck with me.

When actions of my own such as these (stopping on a road trip or buying lunch for a friend) remind me of someone I’ve admired or appreciated, I see that as a call to prayer. As I take time to enjoy the memory, I thank God for the friend and whisper a prayer for her. If we’ve kept in touch over the years, I may know how to pray specifically. But even if we haven’t, God knows her situation, so I can ask Him to provide whatever she needs. The memory may even be the Holy Spirit’s way of prompting me to pray at just the right time for a serious concern. Knowing this, I’m even more thankful for precious memories that remind me to pray.

Father, thank You for the gift of memory and for the people You’ve blessed our lives with throughout the years. As memories of these people enter our minds, please prompt us to pray . . . to show our gratitude . . . to honor our friends . . . to intercede for them. Amen.

If you’d like to learn more about Parachute Prayer, my new book is now available on Amazon.

*For the record, Boom is pronounced Bohm. Corrie was too sweet to correct the American pronunciation, but as one who spent her growing up years explaining and defending the pronunciation of her maiden name, I feel the need to set the record straight. The tour guide at the clock shop agreed. (And, in case you were wondering, Benlien is pronounced Ben-lynn. But that’s a story for another day.)

I’ve shared this post on the Grace & Truth Link Up! Visit that site to find more inspirational thoughts this weekend.